Do I need an alar base reduction or full on rhinoplasty? (Photo)

Hello and thank you for
your question.  Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs
alone it appears that you can benefit from a tip rhinoplasty with an alar base reduction to refine your nose and diminish your nostril apertures.  One thing I would ask is whether you have any history of bad scarring.  If not, then the next step for
you is to find the right board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon.  In your
rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals
and concerns specifically, and discusses the surgery details including the
position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just
digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time,
and post-operative course.  Alar base reductions can be tricky but the subtle improvement when done right can be extremely rewarding to patients, so please be sure to see plenty of
before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar nose appearance to yours,
and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to
more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.  I
think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good
connection with your plastic surgeon.  It’s the connection that allows you
to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole
process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon
after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.
For more information on
rhinoplasty, please refer to the link below.
Good luck.
Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic
Plastic Surgeon

Diminishing the nostril width and refining the tip are frequent requests of patients wanting nasal cosmetic improvement. It is possible to improve the cosmetic appearance of the tip alone without altering the rest of the nose in some patients. Whether the optimal option in your particular situation would be a tip rhinoplasty alone or a full rhinoplasty would best be determined at a consultation.  Following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do based on limited 2 dimensional photos without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of the operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon with extensive nasal surgery experience who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) or a facial plastic surgeon (otolaryngologist) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS 

La Jolla,California